The Highly Sensitive Person

Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D., is a world-renowned psychologist and speaker. The Highly Sensitive Person is an in-depth look at characteristics that define sensitivity. Through self-assessment tests and techniques, Aron shows listeners how to identify their own personality traits. This exceptional book can lead to remarkable results for many who suffer from constant stress and anxiety.

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Publisher's Summary

Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D., is a world-renowned psychologist and speaker. The Highly Sensitive Person is an in-depth look at characteristics that define sensitivity. Through self-assessment tests and techniques, Aron shows listeners how to identify their own personality traits. This exceptional book can lead to remarkable results for many who suffer from constant stress and anxiety.

This is an extremely heavy scientific based presentation regarding intuitives. Most intuitives or highly sensitive people don't need to be presented with information validating who or what they are - for they know what they're experiencing. The tone of the book appears to be addressed to all the writers peers, family members or friends that didn't understand her way of Being - other than that she was different and this was perceived as a negative. It's that negative judgement and perception I feel the writer is specifically addressing in this book. She does a very thorough job of defending, explaining and validating the empathic person. She does this by documenting and sharing research regarding the evidence of various empathic animals within the animal kingdom while tracing the way to the physiology of humans and how scientific evidence does support the existence of highly sensitive people. She then briefly describes the traits, possible challenges and common characteristics of a highly sensitive person. All this information is helpful for the non-sensitives, for the non-intuitives. People who have no direct experience as a highly sensitive person would benefit from this book. People who are in the psychology world or living with a highly sensitive person and seeking understanding as to the why of " you're so sensitive" will benefit from this book.

However, if you are a highly sensitive person or intuitive I suggest this book isn't for you (being one myself). If you are interested in developing, managing, accepting and empowering yourself and sensitivity I suggest books by Russ Hass. Rue Hass isn't interested in making a case that sensitive people exist and validating this through science, her voice is one that addresses some of the challenges and opportunities that exist as a highly sensitive person. She is more hands on with coping and integrating this skill into a fulfilling life.

The review stating this is highly scientific is correct... Ms Aron was responsible for pioneering research in this area. This work was originally published in 1996 as a summary of her years of investigation... 13 years before Ms Hass publication... so her work stands squarely on the shoulders of Elaine Aron. Before Elaine Aron's groundbreaking treatise it was assumed "sensitive" persons were weak, whining people (to use the reviewers phrase), who just needed to buck up and get with the program. I have no doubt Ms Hass' book is a good example of self help for HSP's... but let's give credit where it due. THIS is the definitive work on the subject. Not available in audiobook... but Elaine Aron's books on raising an HSP child, and HSP's in love relationships along with a companion workbook are solid reads as well.

What made the experience of listening to The Highly Sensitive Person the most enjoyable?

Upon conclusion of The Highly Sensitive Person I’m left with a feeling of peace and better understanding of my natural temperament. I’ve always felt like a stranger in a strange land of extroverts who all seem to flourish in social situations, whereas I’ve always craved more intimate low key social interactions. This book is a magnificent tool for anyone who feels marginalized due to their natural inclination towards the quiet life, and is seeking ways to adapt their personality into a fast paced society while still being true to who they really are.

Any additional comments?

The reader of an audio book can make or break the experience. Barbara Caruso did a fabulous job of conveying a nonjudgmental, & almost motherly tone throughout the book, you could feel the tenderness in her voice, and this made the book all the more pleasant to listen to.

What did you like best about The Highly Sensitive Person? What did you like least?

Oh my goodness, I honestly can't listen to this book anymore. I'm only 3 hours in, but I just can't get past the narrator's tone of voice. It's so distracting & almost patronizing. I'm sure she'd be fantastic narrating plays or dramatic fiction, but not this. At all. I'm an HSP and I love the premise of this book, but I just can't listen anymore. I'd love to finish this, so I'm gonna buy the actual book.

I hate to offend anyone, but while this book has some good content, it was hard to get past the irritating voice of the narrator. I tried very hard to listen but I couldn't focus on what was being said because of the 'proper tone' and 'voice fluctuations' of the narrator. I ended up actually reading instead of listening. This narrator might be good for historical books or fiction books(although I don't think I could listen), but not for a serious informational book.

As a HSP, I desperately wanted this book (and I highly recommend getting the print version as well - there's just too much in here that you'll miss with having the Audible version alone). The awful reviews of the narrator almost scared me away, but my stubborn nature let me plunge ahead and put the book in my cart. I'm so glad I did. I don't know why the other reviewers found the narrator so awful. I quite liked her and found her tone soothing and just right for the book. I won't extol her virtues. Try the sample and make up your own mind. She sounds in the rest of the book just as she does in the sample. You can find plenty about this book elsewhere on the web and on Dr. Aron's own site, so I won't take up space here reviewing it, but if you're an HSP or have an HSP in your life, it's essential reading/listening and will help you understand the HSP nature. As for the narrator, I gave her full marks. I loved her and found she added to the book's content, and was certainly not as others have stated, a distraction, but that is my opinion. Try the sample for yourself. At any rate, don't let the others make up your mind for you. It's a great book and certainly worth a listen.

What made the experience of listening to The Highly Sensitive Person the most enjoyable?

This book was so informative. I had never heard of this label before. So glad to know now why so often I would be upset for no reason. Now I know what was making me feel this way and why I wasn't like all the other people.

How could the performance have been better?

I felt the reader's voice was highly irritating to me and not calming. Wish the author had read her own book because her voice is mellow.

I think there are some really valuable ideas in this book; I know it has been very helpful in my interactions with my wife, who is a highly sensitive person. Unfortunately the author tends to ramble on a lot, particularly in the last half of the book. I found there was about 3 hours of very valuable material in the almost 10 hours of the book.

I rated moderate on the scale of HSPs and found this book an excellent resources for understanding & explaining this character trait. I found it useful and appreciated the balance between the advantages & disadvantages with many strategies for coping. The narrator did not annoy me at all. Listen to the sample if you have trouble enjoying audiobooks when you don't care for the narrator.

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